Max Browne’s departure from the team after the end of the regular season left the Trojans in search of a backup for Sam Darnold.

For nine games, the steady Browne was there behind Darnold on the depth chart in case of injury.

Though Darnold was never seriously hurt, it was not a bad insurance plan. Coach Clay Helton, after all, initially tabbed Browne as the stater in August before the week four shake-up, suggesting enough confidence. The redshirt junior quarterback presented an experienced hand, too.

But Browne, who has one season of eligibility remaining and aims for a chance to start, plans to enroll at another school in January as a graduate transfer. He visited Pittsburgh last weekend, as he looks to explore potential destinations.

For USC, that leaves only a handful of options behind Darnold as it prepares to face Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

At practice Tuesday, Matt Fink and Jalen Greene took the majority of the repetitions at quarterback with the second-team offense.

Helton said Greene would “probably” serve as the backup. Walk-ons Thomas Fitts and Holden Thomas are involved, as well.

Fink, a true freshman from Glendora High, has not played this season and has been on track to redshirt, an issue the staff is aware of.

“Obviously if we can make it through the entire game with Sam, we’re going to do that,” Helton said. “If we get in an emergency situation, we’ll make that decision. If I had to say who would go in there right now, to be able to save Matt Fink’s redshirt year, I would put Jalen in.”

Greene, a redshirt sophomore, arrived on campus as a quarterback from Serra High in Gardena, before moving to wide receiver.

Over the coming weeks, Greene will practice at both positions.

Asked how the former quarterback looked at quarterback Tuesday, Helton smiled.

“It looked like he was riding a bike, making all the calls,” Helton said. “Everything was smooth.”

After practice, Fink acknowledged the plan for him to redshirt, but said his prep was unaltered.

“I go out there and try my hardest every day, and try to get better every day,” Fink said.

Draft decision

Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster will wait until after the Rose Bowl before deciding whether to enter for the NFL draft or return for his senior season.

Speaking with reporters after the Trojans’ 45-27 victory over Notre Dame last month, he said his decision regarding declaring for the draft would be impacted by what junior cornerback Adoree’ Jackson decides.

Asked Tuesday if he was serious about the declaration, he said, “Possibly, yeah.”

The two players, he said, have discussed their pending decisions recently.

“The future, the possibility of coming back and being able to win the natty, “ he said, “there’s a lot of things.”

Smith-Schuster, a junior, has caught 63 passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns, leading USC in receiving for a second straight season.

Quick hits

Junior cornerback Jonathan Lockett will undergo season-ending hip surgery this week. Lockett, who was bothered by a hip injury for the second half of the season, had 17 tackles and intercepted a pass in nine games. … Backup center Khaliel Rodgers is in the concussion protocol and did not practice Tuesday. … Running back Aca’Cedric Ware, who was put in the concussion protocol after the regular-season finale against Notre Dame, took part in practice. … Smith-Schuster (wrist sprain), quarterback Sam Darnold (hip flexor) and tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hamstring) practiced despite minor injuries. … Helton began his post-practice news conference by expressing condolences to the family of former USC running back Joe McKnight, who was shot and killed near New Orleans earlier this month. McKnight’s funeral was Monday. “Joe will be greatly missed by our entire Trojan family,” Helton said.

Joey Kaufman is the USC beat writer for the Southern California News Group. Since joining the Orange County Register in 2015, he has also covered Major League Baseball and UCLA athletics. His work has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors and Football Writers Association of America. Kaufman grew up in beautiful downtown Burbank.